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Motherhood to Murder: Lori Vallow, The Doomsday Mom
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Lori Vallow Daybell, known as the "doomsday mom," gained notoriety for her involvement in a series of tragic events that culminated in the murders of her two children and her husband's former wife. As reported by CBS News, Vallow Daybell was found guilty on all charges in May 2023 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in these deaths.
Lori Vallow's Early Life
people.com
Lori Vallow Daybell's early life offers little indication of the destructive path she would later take. Born in 1973 in San Bernardino, California, Lori grew up in a Mormon family and was described by friends as a devoted mother to her children, including Tylee Ryan
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. Her journey into extreme religious beliefs began around 2017 when she started reading the apocalyptic fiction books of Chad Daybell1
. This marked the beginning of her descent into what prosecutor Lindsey Blake would later call a "religious rabbit hole"2
. As Lori became more involved with Chad Daybell's teachings, her relationship with her children changed dramatically, setting the stage for the tragic events that would unfold in Maricopa County, Arizona, and later in Idaho1
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.3 sources
The Vallow-Daybell Case Breakthrough
npr.org
The breakthrough in the Lori Vallow Daybell case came on June 9, 2020, when investigators discovered the remains of Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow buried in Chad Daybell's backyard in Rexburg, Idaho
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. This grim discovery led to Chad Daybell's immediate arrest and provided crucial evidence linking the couple to the murders.
The unearthing of the children's bodies in what was described as a "pet cemetery" on Daybell's property marked a turning point in the investigation, solidifying the charges against both Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell2
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. This evidence, along with text messages and other digital communications, contributed to the prosecution's case, leading to Lori Vallow Daybell's conviction on all counts in May 20234
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Lori Vallow Daybell (Photos)
newsweek.com
oxygen.com
yahoo.com
A Horrendous Chain: The Timeline of Deaths
cbsnews.com
The Lori Vallow Daybell case unfolded over several years, with key events spanning from 2018 to 2024. In fall 2018, Lori met Chad Daybell at a religious conference, marking the beginning of their relationship
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. The following year saw a series of tragic events: Charles Vallow, Lori's fourth husband, was killed in July 2019; Lori's children Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow disappeared in September 2019; and Chad's wife Tammy Daybell died in October 20192
. Lori and Chad married in November 2019, shortly after Tammy's death2
. The children's remains were discovered on Chad's property in June 2020, leading to the couple's arrests2
. Lori's trial began in April 2023, resulting in her conviction on all charges in May 20233
. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole on July 31, 20233
. Chad Daybell's separate trial is scheduled to begin in April 2024, with jury selection completed on April 1, 20243
.3 sources
Zealous Madness: Daybell's Destructive Influence
iowapublicradio.org
Chad Daybell's influence on Lori Vallow was profound and destructive. After meeting at a religious conference in 2018, Daybell, a self-published author of Mormon apocalyptic fiction, captivated Vallow with his claims of prophetic visions and ability to see beyond the "veil" of reality
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. Their relationship, based on shared extreme religious beliefs, led them down a dangerous path. Daybell convinced Vallow that they had been married in past lives and were destined to lead a select group before the end times1
. This apocalyptic worldview resulted in them labeling people as "light," "dark," or "zombies," including Vallow's own children1
. Their shared delusions led to the tragic deaths of Vallow's children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, as well as Daybell's first wife, Tammy1
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.3 sources
The Story of the Vallow-Daybell Case (Videos)
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Lori Vallow Daybell's Personal Life: A Map of Murder
abc4.com
Lori Vallow Daybell's personal life was marked by multiple marriages and a descent into extreme religious beliefs. Born in 1973, she married five times, with her final marriage to Chad Daybell in 2019 proving pivotal in her destructive path
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. Lori's brother, Alex Cox, played a significant role in the deaths surrounding her, including the shooting of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, in Maricopa County, Arizona2
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As Lori became increasingly involved with Chad Daybell's apocalyptic teachings, she developed what she claimed were "spirit connections" and began to view her children as "zombies"3
. This radical shift in her worldview resulted in the tragic deaths of her children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, whose remains were found in Chad Daybell's "pet cemetery" in Idaho4
.4 sources
Closing Thoughts on Lori Vallow Daybell
The Vallow-Daybell murders represent a tragic confluence of religious extremism, familial destruction, and criminal conspiracy. Lori Vallow, dubbed the "Doomsday Mom," and her husband Chad Daybell, an apocalyptic author, left a trail of death across multiple states, including the murders of Vallow's children Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and Chad's wife Tammy Daybell. The case, which garnered national attention, involved complex investigations in both Maricopa County, Arizona, and Idaho, with evidence ranging from phone records to the grim discovery in a pet cemetery. The couple's descent into a religious rabbit hole, fueled by cult-like beliefs and alleged spirit connections, led to multiple counts of conspiracy and murder charges. As reported by East Idaho News, Lori Vallow's trial concluded with a guilty verdict, while Chad Daybell awaits a separate trial
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. The case continues to raise questions about religious extremism, constitutional rights in criminal proceedings, and the destructive path that zealous beliefs can carve through families and communities3
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.4 sources
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What were the main legal strategies used by the prosecution
How did the media portrayal of the case influence public opinion
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